23 Best Restaurants in Kauai, Hawaii

Talk about "farm to table"––Kokee Lodge grows much of its own produce, and the tables are handmade from local lumber. Local beef is used for loco mocos (white rice topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and fried egg) and burgers, which can be served on fresh greens with house-made dressings; a veggie strata or a kalua pork plate, with Kokee plum barbecue sauce, is a perfect hot lunch on chilly days. Hikers have every excuse to carb load with locally famous corn bread or to refuel with pie by the fire. There's a full bar, espresso counter, and live music, too. Peruse the gift shop for "Hunt Pig" T-shirts, postcards, and mountain memorabilia.  Ask about the occasional chef's dinners.

Fresh, fast, and affordable, Da Crack is everything you could ask for when refueling between outdoor activities. Fill your burrito, bowl, or taco with locally caught fish, traditional beans, house-made salsa, and local avocado guacamole—or many other choices made from scratch—then head back out to eat and explore more of the island.

Large helpings of simple but satisfying, hearty fare are the focus at this no-frills spot in the slightly run-down Rice Shopping Center. Breakfast standards like stuffed French toast, shrimp or standard eggs Benedict, blueberry pancakes, waffles, and eggs dominate the menu and are served until closing. You'll also find many Island favorites, including saimin noodles, tripe stew, oxtail soup, and hefty plate lunches featuring kalbi (Korean barbecue beef), roast pork, and chili and rice. A small selection of sandwiches and burgers rounds out the offerings.

Folks just love this cash-only, old plantation-style diner, though the very simple food doesn't quite live up to the buzz. Locals and tourists still stream in and out all day long: the famous saimin noodle soup is the big draw, and each day the Hiraoka family dishes up about 1,000 bowls of the steaming broth and house-made noodles topped with a variety of garnishes. The landmark eatery is also famous for its lilikoi (passion fruit) chiffon pie. Parking is often a challenge.  This is one of the few Lihue restaurants open late—10 pm on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

A sibling of popular Java Kai in Kapaa, this Kilauea coffee joint serves breakfast and lunch until 2 pm. Order online ahead of time, otherwise risk a lengthy wait.

The humble hamburger gets an Asian twist at Kenji's, a small casual eatery with four outposts throughout the island that uses primarily grass-fed Kauai beef. Choose the teriyaki, veggie, truffle, or hapa burger, each topped with goodies like caramelized onions, Japanese mushrooms, and tomato jam; local favorites include loco moco (a popular local rice, beef, gravy, and eggs concoction), poke, and chicken katsu (fried cutlet) bowls. Don't miss the sushi burritos, which are actually hearty nori wraps stuffed with softshell crab, lobster, ahi, and other seafood selections. The thin crispy french fries get a lift when sprinkled with furikake, a Japanese seaweed seasoning. There is indoor and outdoor seating.

Having outgrown its tiny shop by the post office, Koloa Fish Market now offers tasty take-out poke, plate lunches, fresh fish, and party platters at a location along the road to Poipu.

If you like a super hearty breakfast, try this family-friendly restaurant, a Kapaa mainstay since 1975. With its familiar food, cozy atmosphere, and friendly service, it's a great spot for omelets, banana pancakes, waffles, and eggs Benedict in two sizes. Lunch selections include sandwiches, burgers, and loco moco. It's very busy at breakfast, so expect a wait. 

A perfect beach day starts with coffee and an acai bowl or bagel sandwich from Little Fish, a popular snack shack along the main road in Poipu. Spreads are house-made, bakery treats are mom's recipes, and the flavor-packed smoothies will have you back tomorrow for another. Ingredients are locally grown and organic whenever possible. Order online for pickup or watch the world go by from a picnic table.

Located right on the main drag of Kapaa, this café has an exterior that's a bit grimy and noisy, but it's worth a stop to order takeout and walk to the beach instead. The poke salad bowl and ahi nori wrap made of seared tuna, rice, and cucumber with wasabi cream sauce are the best picks here. Other choices include hearty fresh salads, sandwiches, tropical tacos, stir-fry noodles, and satay made from either tofu or chicken.

Organic non-GMO flour is transformed into breads and pastries available at the bakery or at farmers' markets and health-food stores around the island. Hot panini, tartines (open-faced sandwiches), pizza, and deli favorites use island-grown produce and make for a satisfying quick breakfast or lunch, for here or to go. Don't forget dessert.

Don't let the name fool you; they don't open at sunrise (more like 7:30 am, so come here after you watch the sunrise elsewhere). And it's not just a fruit stand: fill up on bagels, pancakes, smoothies, and coffee drinks in the morning; homemade salads, burritos, panini, and sandwiches for lunch; and tropical-style fresh juices, such as pineapple, carrot, watermelon, and guava, anytime.

Monico’s Taqueria is a favorite among locals and visitors, due to its hearty portions and delicious authentic cuisine, including nachos, tortas, flautas, and fajitas. The bright airy dining room is cheerful, and the outdoor patio offers a view of coconut palms waving in the breeze.

Simple food and hearty portions are the draw at this casual family-owned restaurant offering ranch-style cuisine. Choose from steak or fish sandwiches, taco or chicken salads, burgers, grilled fish, and plates piled high with chicken, steak, or ribs, along with house-made chili and salad. Though they specialize in BBQ meats, vegetarians will find some options. The rustic decor is cozy and casual, with plastic chairs and ranch memorabilia. Nightly live music adds to the fun.

Kauai's largest natural-foods market, now in much larger digs fronting the highway in the same shopping center, offers a cold grab-and-go menu of deli and green salads, wraps, soups for reheating, smoothies, and sometimes fresh sashimi.

It takes four steps to customize a Hawaiian-style hot dog here, so your crew may want to study the menu in advance. Choose a Polish sausage or veggie dog, top it with a house-made sauce and one of six intriguing tropical fruit relishes, then add mustard (lilikoi—passion fruit—is best). All this deliciousness won't fall out on your bathing suit because the bun is baked with a puka (a hole) rather than sliced. Grab a fresh-squeezed lemonade and cross the road to the beach for the final ingredient, sunshine.

This Asian restaurant, known as SEA Kauai, is a welcome and affordable addition to the Lihue dining scene, offering super fresh sushi as well as Thai cuisine. Try the popular sushi boats or the sweet-spicy pineapple curry. The setting is simple and clean, with indoor and open-air seating, and the service is friendly and efficient.

Pick up some of Kauai’s tastiest made-to-order rolls, sushi burritos, and poke bowls with ahi, smoked salmon, and (sometimes) ono at this modest trailer. Dine in the adjacent courtyard (snag a table with an umbrella) or picnic at the beach. This is a popular place, so be prepared to wait in line.

Not surprisingly, tacos take center stage here (though there are tamales and salad bowls). The tacos are made from quality ingredients, many of which are organic and locally sourced, and you can mix and match; the fish tacos, as well as those filled with kalua pig, surf and turf, or fire-roasted vegetables, are popular choices. The corn tortillas are house-made, and so are the tamales and slow-cooked meats. Tacos are very large and are served à la carte. This joint is mostly for takeout, with a tiny dining room and a few outside tables facing the parking lot.

A tiny café with a huge local following, Trilogy serves artisanal coffee, tea, chai, and various specialty drinks, plus an array of sweet and savory treats, from avocado toast with macadamia pesto and za'atar seasoning to cakes and cookies.

Combining classic Mexican food with chile-based sauces and creations from the chef's home state of New Mexico, Verde's menu includes tostadas, enchiladas, and tacos filled with fresh fish, slow-cooked chicken, or local grass-fed beef. The garlic-shrimp tacos and stacked enchilada with a choice of chicken, pork adovada (New Mexican red chile stew), or Kauai beef filling, smothered in red or green chile sauce, are favorites. The food runs hot and spicy. Beer on tap and the house margarita are the only alcoholic offerings. Save room for the fried sopaipillas served with Kauai honey. The modern decor is sparse but comfortable and casual, with natural lighting and seating at tables or the bar. Located in Hokulei Village in Lihue, Verde offers delivery services and online ordering for the Lihue area.

Wong's family-run, family-style restaurant has been serving up hearty portions of local favorites for decades. Specials change, but plate lunches are always available to go, complete with rice and mac salad (which Hawaii practically considers a "vegetable"). Save room for light lilikoi chiffon pie or desserts made with coconut and purple sweet potato.